An overhead crane is a great investment for your business. It will allow you to take on bigger jobs that pay more, it will improve work turnover, and it will increase worker safety at your workplace. However, do you know what you need to look for when buying one? Below, read about the 5 important questions you need to ask yourself before procuring any overhead crane.

How much can it lift?

The most important quality of an overhead crane is its power rating, often abbreviated as kW. This rating represents how large and powerful the crane motor is. It also lets you know what kind of weight the crane can lift and move about. An easier way to go about understanding this question is to ask for the weight rating of the crane, often quoted in tonnes. This information will let you know if the crane in question can handle the scale of jobs you have in mind.

How many objects can it lift at a go?

The motor mounted on the crane rails is responsible for the lifting action. One motor can lift one item at any one time. It acts more like a vertical winch. However, some work spaces need a crane that can lift several weights at the same time. If this is so, look for a crane with multiple motors. These motors can be mounted on the same rail or on separate rails.

Can it displace items horizontally?

Most overhead cranes are designed to lift heavy loads and to move them across the room over a steal beam rail. However, this is just one type of displacement. There are some other overhead cranes that move loads both across the room and along its length as well. With these cranes, the motor can move along the rail, and the rail itself can also move over a second perpendicular rail horizontally from one end of the room to the other.

How fast is the crane?

Another import quality in an overhead crane is speed. There are two types of speed to look at here. The first is the speed of the motor: how fast it can lift objects from the ground to a certain height mid-air. The second is the speed of the crane along its rail: rail speed. Both factors directly affect productivity. As you can imagine, a crane with higher rail and motor speeds is more efficient than a slow one

Can it be upgraded to carry out larger jobs?

Last, but not least, ask yourself if the crane can be upgraded in the future to lift larger weights without having to replace the entire unit, an endeavour that would turn out to be very expensive. Cranes designed with robust rails can be replaced with larger motors to improve the lifting capacity and speeds. Can the same be done to your overhead motor, or will you have to get a completely new unit?

A crane technician or consultant can help you find the best cranes for your needs in regards to all the above factors. Talk to one before making a purchase.